Box-covering machine.



' Patented .Ian. I4, I902. P. 8. SMITH. 80X COVERING MACHINE.

(Application filed July 23, 1901.)

I5 Sheets8hoot I.

(No Model.)

I fNVE/VTOR P/ZWWZ A rum I/VIT 'No. 69l,329.'- Patented Jan. l4, I902.

P. s. SMITH.

BOX COVERING MACHINE.

(Application filed July 23, 1901.) I (No Model.) I5 Sheets-Sheet 3.

I III Q 55:5 1 v i WITNESSES.- I I 857711272 No. s9|,329.

Patented Jan. I4, I902.

H W M S. & R

BOX COVERING MACHINE.

(Application filed July 23, 1901'.

I5 Sheets-Sheet .5.

(No Model.)

No. 69l,329.' Patented Ian. I4, I902.

v P. 8. SMITH.

.BOX COVERING MACHINE.

(Applies.

on filedJuly 23, 1901 I (No Model.)

No. 69!,329. Patented Ian. M, I902. I

P. 8. SMITH. -BOX COVERING MACHINE.

(Application filed. July 28, 1901.\ (No Model.) l5 She-ots8heet 7.

[NVENTUR TN: uomils fihzns w mofoumo WASHINGTON o c uu TiEF wa W W1 TNESSESE No. 691,329. Patented Ian. I4, I902.

' P. 8. SMITH.

BOX COVERING MACHINE. A imation filed July 23, 1901. (No Model.) l5 Sheets-Sheet 8.

W1 TNESSES:

No. 69l,329. Patented Jan. I4, I902.

P. 8. SMITH. BOX COVERING MACHINE.

(Applicatio n filed July 23, 1901.

(No Model.) l5 Shqets-Sheet 9.

. [NI/ENTOR WIT/v15. 15s.- 1g? 7; PM 1 37 7 3 j 4? J45 M WMZw/ Y B y 1441 4M N0. 69|,329. Patented la n. l4, I902.

P. 8. SMITH BOX COVERING MACHINE.

(Application filed July 23, 1901.)

I5 Sheets-Sheet ID.

(No Model.)

[NI ENTOR B fla I orney v zjai No. 69!,329. Patented .Ian. l4, I902.

' P. 8. SMITH.

BOX COVERING HACI'HNE.

- (Applicaltion filed July'23, 1901. (No Model.) 1 l5 Sheets-Sheet l|.

No. 69!,329. Patented Ian. I4, I902.

P. 8. SMITH. Box covsama- MACHINE.

(Application filed July 23, 1901.)

(No Model.) |5 Sheets Sheet l2.

ummii mmm Affomej/ No. 69|,329. Patented Ian. [4, I902.

' P. 8. SMITH.

BOX COVERING MACHINE.

(Appliation filed July .23, 1901.)

l5 Sheets-Sheet l3.

(No Oi 1 81 -E a; I 6 21b 220 2511/ 231 258 222' 220 B 9 Mi f? 2241 [NVENTOR f/mgoaamzz-h,

Nu; 69!,329. Patented Jan. I4, 1902.

P. 8. SMITH. w BOX cuvamm; MACHINE.

(Application filed July 23, 1901.)

I5 Sh6BtsSheBi [4.

(No Model.)

v 'L/VVEIZY'TORI 12 PWXSZShlZ/Z.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PHILIP S. SMITH, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR OF THREE-FOURTHS TO HARRY B. SMITH, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, J. STOGDELL STOKES, OF MOORESTOWN, NEW JERSEY, AND WINFIELD SCOTT SMITH, OF

BOX-COVER! NG MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 691,329, dated January 14, 1902.

Application filed July 23, 1901. Serial No. 69,378. (No model.)

To all whmn it may concern:

Be it known that I, PHILIP S. SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Brooklyn, in the State of'NeW York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Box-Covering Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My present invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in box-covering patent to Smith and Bullock, No. 588,887, dated August 24, 1897, and in my pending application, Serial No. 35,613, filed Novemher 6, 1900.

I5 It is the purpose of this invention to overcome certain difficulties found to exist in the previously-constructed machines, to greatly simplify and improve the structuralorganization of parts, and to render the same more efficient in operation and less liable to get out of order. It has been discovered from practical experiments with machines of this.

type that the covering devices or rollers, are often smeared with gum or glue from the form-block carried by the plunger, said glue being imparted to the form block by the coated side of the covering material or blank coming in contact therewith during the movement of the plunger between the covering devices, with the result that on the next movement of the plunger between the covering devices or rollers (the latter being smeared with glue) said glue will be imparted to the face side of the covering material or blank, and thussoil and damage the covered box. In my aforesaid application this objection was overcome by providing flexible guard-strips below the rollers that were caused during the ascent of the plunger to wrap around and cover the rollers to protect them. In the present invention, however, instead of using the guard-strips referred to I provide means for automaticallymoving the rollers out of the path of movement of the plunger during its ascent, so thatthe latter does not come in contact with therollers at all during its up stroke or return movement, and this moving or shifting of the rollers constitutes one of the salient features of the present invention.

machines of the general type shown in the It is a further purpose of the present inso vention to provide novel cleaning devices that engage the sides of the plunger as it is withdrawn 'from the box to clean the sides of the plunger and to combine with such cleaning devices strippers that operate to'hold the boxwhile theplungeriswithdrawn therefrom. It has also been found that the sides and ends of the boxes,and particularly large boxes,have a tendency to bulge or flare outward between their ends after they have passed between the covering-rollers, so that when the edgetuck-in fingers are brought into operation the edges of the covering material or blank will not be tucked in smoothly or evenly. In other words, the covering material is liable to pueker or wrinkle. To obviate this objection, I have provided means termed presserblocks for firmly pressing and holding all sides of the boxperfectly square and close up against the sides of the plungerform blocks, so that when the tuck-in fingers are brought into operation the edges of the covering material will be tucked in evenly and without liability to crease or pucker. I also i provide means for imparting a primary and then a secondary movement to the presser blocks to give two distinct pressures to the covered box, whereby the same is brought to perfect shape and the covering materialfirmly atfixed thereto, and these operations form further important features of the present invention.

Another important feature of the invention resides in the fact that each set of presserblocks, edge-tuck-in fingers, and roller moving or tipping means is mounted on a common support or bracket that is adjustable, so that these three elements may be easily and quickly adjusted simultaneously.

A furtherfeature of the invention is a ris- 9o ing and falling frame or part operativelyconnected to the said presser-blocks, edge-tuck-in fingers, and roller tipping or moving means, whereby all four sets of these devices may be operated simultaneously, the movement to 5 said rising and falling frame or part being derived from a single cam on the main shaft of the machine.

It is a further purpose of the invention to construct various parts of the mechanism in such manner that they may be easily and quickly detached and adjusted, whereby the machine may accommodate and operate upon boxes of varying sizes.

It is a still further purpose of the invention to provide novel and simple mechanism for ejecting the finished or covered box from the machine, said ejector mechanism being antomatic in its operation.

My'invcntion also has for its object to provide means for throwing the ejector mechanism out of operative position in order that the boxes may be left in convenient position for inspection until the machine has been accurately and properly adjusted to do the required work.

To these and other ends theinvention finally comprises the novel features of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter referred to with more particularity and then finally treated in the claims which follow this specification.

In order to enable others skilled in the art to understand, make, and usemy said invention, I will now proceed to describe the same in detail, reference being had for this purpose to the accompanying drawings, wherein like numerals and letters of reference indicate like parts throughout the several views.

In the said drawings, Figure 1 is a view in front elevation of my improved machine. Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a top plan view. Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 44 of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a vertical central sectional view of the plungers. Fig. 6 is a perspective view ofthe same. Fig. 7 is a detail view of a portion of one of the pairs of stripper-fingers. Fig. 8 is a similar view of a modification thereof. Fig. 9 is a detail perspective View, of a portion of one of the covering devices and its guard strip or protector. Fig. 10 is a similar view of one of the supports or bearings of said covering device. Fig. 11 is a similar view, partially broken away, of one end of the supporting-frame of the covering device. Fig.

12 is a sectional view illustrating the means for locking said frame against tilting. Fig. 13 is a detail perspective view of a portion of the presser mechanism. Fig. 14 is a vertical sectional view 'of the same. Fig. 15 is an end view thereof. Fig. 16 is a perspective view of the lever mechanism for actuating the covering devices. Fig. 17 isa detail perspective view of one of the end-turn-in wings. Fig. 18 is a top plan view of the same. Fig. 19 is a detail view of the cam mechanism for controlling the movement of the upper plunger. Fig. 20 isa similar view showing the parts in a different position. Fig. 21 is a detail view of the latch shown in Figs. 19 and 20. Fig. 22 is a detail perspective view of the bell-crank or angle-lever shown in Fig. 13. Fig. 23 is a similar view (ems of one of the Presser-blocks. Fig. 24 is a sin1i lar view of the frame carrying the presserblock. Fig. 25 is a detail perspective view of one of the tuck-in fingers. Fig. 26 is asimilar view of one of the adjustable supports for carrying the covering devices. Fig. 27 is a sectional view of a portion of the same. Fig. 28 is a detail top plan view of a portion of the mechanism for actuating the upper covering devices. Fig. 29 is a detail perspective view of the vertically rising and falling frame for actuating the lower covering devices, the presser-blocks and the edge-tuck-in fingers. Figs. 30, 31, and 32 are diagrammatic views, respectively, of the three cams A, B, and C, which operate to actuate all the operative parts of the box-covering machinery. Fig. 33 is a top plan view of the clutch mechanism for starting and stopping the machine. Fig. 34 is a View in side elevation of the same. Fig. 35 is adetail perspective view of the members of the clutch separated. Fig. 36 is a detail view of a part of the clutch mechanism. Fig. 37 is a detail longitudinal sectional view of the spring-bolt engaged by the cam. Fig. 38 is a view in elevation of the ejector for discharging the completely-covered box from the machine. Fig. 39 isasimilar view showing the parts in a different position. Fig. 40 is a similar view showing the parts in a still different position. Fig. 41 is a top plan view of the cam for releasing the ejector-trigger. Fig. 42 is an end view of the trigger. Fig. 43 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 43 43 of Fig. 38. Fig. 44 is a detail top plan view of the arm for actuating the ejector. Figs. 45 to 51, inclusive, are detail perspective views illustrating the box in several successive stages during the course of its being covered. Fig. 52 is a perspective view of the plunger-cleaning means and strippers in operative position. Fig. 53 is a detail perspective view of one of the plunger-cleaning brushes and its stripper. Fig. 54 is a detail sectional view of the same.

The frame for supporting the operative parts of the machine may be of any construction suitable for the purpose, and in the present instance is shown as consisting of a table 1, supported on legs 2 andprovided at one side with a standard 3, arising vertically from the table. The table 1 midway between its ends is provided with an elevated portion 4, that extends transversely of the table'from front to rear thereof and is provided centrally with an aperture 5, (see Fig. 3,) disposed in the path in which the platen, plungers, and boxes travel during the variousoperations of the machine. Supported by the standard 3 are guides in which travel the plungers which carry the boxes to be covered, and mounted on the table are the covering devices which operate to successively affix the side flaps of the blanks to the sides of the box, turn in the ends of the side flaps against the ends of the box, affix the end flaps to the ends of the box,

ICC

tuck inthe edges of the side and end flaps, and impart a pressure to the sides and ends of the box.

In suitable hearings on the frame of the machine and on the standard 3 is journaled a vertical shaft 6, on the lower end of which is fixed a worm-wheel 7, and mounted in suitable bearings on the frame transversely to the shaft 6 is a driving-shaft 8, on which is fi-xed a pulley 9, adaptedto be driven from any suitable source of power. In practice the shaft Sis continuously driven. Journaled in alinement with the shaft 8 is a shaft 10, on which is fixed a worm 11, that meshes with the worm-wheel 7. Fixed on the shaft 8 is a disk 12, from the face of which project two pins 13, and splined on the shaft 10 is a simi-' lar disk 14, provided with two projecting pins and also provided with acircumferentiallygrooved collar 16, which is engaged by a shifting yoke 17. (See Figs. 33 to 37.) The disk 14 is freely movable longitudinally on the" shaft 10, but is incapable of rotating independently thereof. Loosely mounted on the shaft 10 between the disks 12 and 14 is an intermediate disk 18, provided on its face next to the disk 12 with an annular groove 19, in which the pins 13 revolve, and provided with twoperforations 20, into which project the pins 15. It will be obvious that if the pins 15 be caused to project through the perforations into the grodve 19 they will engage the pins 13, and the disks 12 and 14 will then be interlocked and the two shafts 8 and 10 will rotate together; but when the pins 15 are retracted within the perforations 20 they will be out of engagement with the pins 13, and the disks 1S and-14 and the shaft 10 will remain stationary. The clutch is thrown into and out of operation by the following means: The shifting yoke 17 is fixed on one end of'a longitudinally-sliding rod 21, mounted in bearings 22, and arranged between one of said bearings and a collar 23 on the rod is a coiled spring 24, which operates to thrust the rod toward the right and lock the clutch members together and thereby cause the worm 11 to rotate and through the medium of the worm-wheel 7 rotate the main shaft 6. On the shaft 6, immediately above the wormwheel, is mounted one of the three cams 0, provided on its under side with a segmentshaped cam-lug 25, one end of which is beveled or inclined, as at 26. (See Fig. 34.) Pivoted to a fixed bearing is a bell-crank lever 27, one end of which carries a cylindrical bearing 28, and the other end is arranged to engage a collar 29, fixed by a set-screw on the rod 21.

drical bearing 28 is a bolt 31, which is nor- Slidably arranged in the cylinmally held projected from the hearing by a coiled spring 32, and attached to the inner end of the bearing and spring is a stem 33, carrying at its end a nut 34. Mounted in fixed bearings is a rock-shaft 35, on one end of which is fixed a treadle 36, (see Fig. 2,) and. on the other end is fixed a crank-arm 37,

the free end of which is forked and straddles the end of the bolt-stem 33. In practice when a box has been completely covered and ejected from the machine the cam C will be in such a position that its cam-lug 25 will engage the bolt 31 and depress it, as most clearly shown in Figs. 33, 34, and 36, and will thus rock thebell-crank 27 about its pivot and move the rod 21 back against the tension of the spring 24, thereby throwing the clutch members out of engagement and automatically stopping the rotation of the shaft 6,which, as willhereinafter be explained, throws the entire machine out of operation. NVhen it is desired to put the machine in operation, the operator depresses the treadle 36, therebyretracting the bolt 31 against the tension of the spring 32 and withdrawing said bolt from beneath the cam-lug 25, immediately upon which the bell-crank lever 27 is released and the spring 24 forces the clutch members together and communicates motion from the shaft 8 to the shafts 10 and 6. A hand-lever 38 is also provided for throwing the machine out of operation. Said lever is pivoted at 39 to a fixed bearing and at its lower end is arranged to engage a collar 40, fixed by a setscrew 41 on the rod 21. It will be obvious that by oscillating said lever in the proper direction the rod 21 will be retracted against the tension of the spring 24 and will separate the clutch members, thus throwing the machine out of operation. It will be obvious that when the treadle is depressed to withdraw the bolt from beneath the cam-lug 25 to start the machine the bell-crank 27 will be rocked about its pivot by the spring 24, and when the treadle is released the spring 32 will project the bolt against the vertical outer face of the cam-lug, in contact with which it will remain until the end of the cam-lug comes opposite the end of the bolt, whereupon the spring 32 will force the bolt out into position to be engaged by the cam-lug again when the cam O has finished another complete revolution or, in other words, when a box has been completely covered and ejected from the machine.

Mounted on the main shaft 6 is a cam O, which actuates the mechanism for operating the lower folding devices, the edge-tuck-in fingers, and the presser-blocks, and the endturn-in wings are actuated from a cam B, mounted on the shaft 6 above the cam 0. Also mounted on the shaft 6 above the cam B is a cam A, which actuates the plungers and strippers, the three cams A, B, and 0 actuating all the box-covering mechanism.

On the upper end of the standard 3 are bracket-arms 42 and 43, on the former of which are fixed vertical guideways 44, in which is arranged to reciprocate up and downa plunger-rod 45, consisting of a bar rectangular in cross-section and grooved on its opposite sides, as at 46, for the purpose hereinafter made apparent. Fitted in the lower end of the plunger-rod 45 is a tenon 47, (see Figs. 5 and 6,) which is attached by a plate 48 to a rectangular block 49-. The block 49 constitutes the lower plunger and in prac' tice is of the same width and length as the box to be covered; but its thickness is less than the depth of the box to be covered. A number of plungers of different sizes are provided and are interchangeable in order that boxes of different sizes may be covered. Super-imposed on the plunger 49 is a block 50, constituting the upper plunger, said block being centrally apertured, through which aperture the tenon 47 freely passes, so that the plungers may move independently of one another. Resting in the grooves 46 in the sides of the plunger-rod and passing through the lower end of the latter are two vertical rods 51, which at their lower ends are attached to a metallic block 52, which in turn is detachably secured to the plunger 50. The plunger 50 is thesame width and length as the plunger 49, and the combined thicknesses of the two plungers is substantially equal to the depth of the box to be covered. The upper ends of the two rods 51 are connected together bya cross-head 53. Pivoted to the end of the bracket-arm43 is 'a lever 54, one end of which is connected to an adjustable link connection 55, which latter in turn is connected to the plunger-rod 45. The link connection forms no part of the present invention and need nottherefore be herein described.' On the free end of the lever 54 is arranged a weight 56, which serves to counterbalance ,the weight of the plungers and their connected parts. On the lever 54 between its pivot 37 and. the link connection 55 is a friction-roller 57, which engages an endless cam groove or raceway 58, formed on the periphery of the cylindricalcam A, fixed on the driving-shaft 6. The-shape of the cam groove or raceway is shown diagrammatically in Fig. 30, and will be hereinafter referred to.

It will be evident that as the cam A rotates the lever 54 will be oscillated about its pivot and will raise and lower the plunger-rod and its plungers. The guideways 44 are so arranged relatively to the table that as the plungers are raised and lowered they will pass through the aperture 5 in the table.

Fixed to a platform 59 beneath the table is a vertical guide 60, on which is arranged to i freely move verticallya rising and falling guide 60 is a standard 62, in the upper endv of which is journaled a pulley 63, and passing around said pulley is a strap 64, to one end of which is attached a weight 65, the other end of said strap being attached to a plate 66, that is fixed on the lower end of a rod 67. The rod 67 is vertically movable in suitable bearings and is provided at its upper end with a head 68, to which is attached a rectangular platen 69, that is adapted to pass through the aperture 5 in the table. It will be evident that the Weight and strap will have the tendency to hold the platen elevated, and its upward movement is limited by the plate or disk 66 on its lower end coming in contact with the under side of the platform 59. In order to cushion the blow of the plate or disk against the platform, I aflix to the upper side of the former pads 70, of rubber or other yielding material. WVhen the platen 69is atthe limit of its upward movement, it will rest justabove the level of the elevated portion 4 of the table.

Projecting vertically through the plungers 49 and 50 are four stripper-rods 71, each consisting of a round metallic rod. The stripper-rods are connected together in pairs, as shown, one pair being arranged near each end of the plungers. The upper ends of the stripper-rods are bent at right angles to their vertical portions, and the horizontal portion of each of the stripper-rods is cut away or bisected, as at 72,.so that said portion is semicircular in cross-section. The bisected portions of each pair of rods overlap each other, as most clearly shown in Figs. 6 and 7, and both pass through a longitudinal perforated block 73. The blocks 73 are also transversely perforated, and through the transverse perforations therein project arms 74, formed or fixed on the ends of a yoke 75. To the yoke are fixed the lower ends of two rods 76, which are movable vertically in perforated lugs 77 on the sides of the guideways 44. To one of the rods 76 is attached one end of a link 78, (see Figs. 1, 5, 19, and 20,) and the other end of said link is pivotedto the end of a bent lever 79, that is pivoted intermediate its ends to the bracket-arm 42. On the opposite end of the bent lever 79 is a friction-roller 80, which engages an endless cam-groove or raceway 81, formed on the periphery of the cam A, said cam-groove being shown diagrammatically in Fig. 30. As the cam A rotates the bent lever is oscillated about its pivot 82 at certain periods of the rotation of said cam and raises and lowers the rods 76 and with them the stripper-rods 71, as will more fully hereinafter appear. As before stated, a number of interchangeable plungers of different sizes are employed for use in connection with boxes'of difierent sizes, and hence it follows that the stripper-rods must be adjusted toward and from each other to fit the different-sized plungers. By mounting the stripper-rods in the blocks 73 in the manner described the rods of each pair may be ad-.

j usted toward and from each other by sliding the overlapping ends 72 one upon the other narrow boxes but a single stripper-rod at each end of the plungers is employed, and in such case the blocks73 are removed from the arms 74, and blocks 84 are used in their places. (See Fig. 8.) Said blocks 84 are held in place on the rods 74 by set-screws 85, and each'of said blocks is provided with a transverse perforation, in which is fitted the horizontal portion of a single stripper-rod 86, which is held in place by a set-screw 87.

' Normally the plunger rests on the plunger 49 by gravity and the two plungers move together; but at certain periods of their movements the movement of the upper plunger is arrested, while thelower plunger continues its downward movement, so as to separate the two plungers for the purpose hereinafter explained, and this is accomplished as follows: Attached to the two rods '51 at their upper ends is a laterally-projecting bracket 88, in the end of which is fixed a depending rod 89,

carrying at its lower end an approximately wedge-shaped cam 90. (See Figs. 5, 19, and 20.) On the end of the auxiliary bent lever 79 is a rectangular lug or projection 91, which is adapted to engage the bottom of the cam 90 and prevent the further descent'of the rods 51, carrying the upper plunger 50, and thus arresting the downward movement of the said plunger, and as the lower plunger continues to descend said plungers are separated and are held separated until the bent lever 79 moves downward and permits the upper plunger to drop down upon the lower plun ger. It is desirable, however, for the sake of promptness and certainty that the upper plu nger be moved down upon the lower plunger -to bring the two together again positively,

and this is accomplished by the following means: Pivoted near the end of the bent auxiliary lever 79 is an oscillating arm 92, (see Figs. 5, 19, 20, and 21,) in the upper end of which is formed a cylindrical socket 93, in whichis movably fitted aslidinglatch 94, havinga beveled end 95. Arranged in the socket behind the latch is a coiled spring 96, which operates to thrust forward the latch. To the other end of the arm 92 is attached one end of a coiled spring 97, the opposite end of which is attached to the bent auxiliary lever 79. Said spring is constantly under tension and operates to hold the arm 92 in the position shown in Fig. 5, any suitable stop (not shown) being provided to prevent the spring from oscillating the arm further. Then the cam descends to engage the lug 91, its inclined side engages the beveled end of the latch 94 and presses the latter back against the tension of the spring 96 until the cam engages the lug 91, at which time the upper end of the cam has passed beyond the latch and the latterisim mediately thrust forward by its spring over the upper end of the cam. When the bent lever 79 is moved downward, the latch forces down the cam, thus forcing down the rods 51 and the upper plunger carried thereby. When the upper plunger and the rods 51 are moved upward, the cam 90 rocks the arm 92 on its pivot, as shown in Fig. 20, and thecam ed in the ways.

is thus permitted to rise past the latch. When the plungers are at the limit of their upward movement, as shown in Fig. 1, which is the position they are in at the commencementof the operation of the machine, the frictionroller 57 on the lever 54 is in the horizontal portion a of the groove 58 of the cam A, (see Fig. 30,) and the friction-roller 80 on the end of the bent lever 79 is in the horizontal portion t' of the cam-groove 81 on the cam A, and as long as said rollers continue in the horizontal portions of their cam-grooves the levers 54 and 79 remain stationary in the position shown in Fig.1. When the parts arein such position, the stripper-rods 71 are raised relatively to the plungers and are sheathed in the latter, as shown. The plungers are then in position to receive a box to be covered.

The covering to-be applied to the boxes is cut into blanks 99 of substantially the shape shown in Fig. 45, and said blanks are pasted on their upper sides. Before placing the box upon the plungers it is placed bottom downward on the body of the blank, as shown in Fig. 46. In practice the bottoms of the boxes are applied to the blanks by an operator and arecarried from the latters bench or table by an endless belt and delivered by the latter to the operator in charge of the covering-machine. The latter operator slips the box, with the cover-blank attached to its bottom, upon the plungers and then depresses the treadle 36, thus putting the shaft 6, with its cams A, B, and C, in motion. When the inclined portion 1) of the cam-groove 58 on the cam A engages the friction-roller 57 on the lever 54, the latter is forced downward and in turn forces downward the plungers49 and 50, carrying the box. As the plungers descend they meet the platen 69, and the bottom of the box and the blank are pressed between the lower plunger and the platen, and the blank 99 is thereby firmly affixed to the bottom of the box. As the plungers and box continue to descend they force the platen downward against the action of the strap 64 and weight 65, and the box first encounters the upper covering devices, which operate to aflix the side flaps 127 of the blanks to the sides of the box.

Formed on the upper side of the raised portion 4 of the table in front and rear of the aperture 5 are ways 101 and 102, (see Figs. 1 and 4,) between which areinovably arranged plates 103. (Most clearly shown in Fig. 26.) One of the ways of each pair, as 101, is undercut, as shown, the side of the other way being vertical, whereby the insertion and removal of the plates in the ways is facilitated. Each of the plates 103 is longitudiually slotted, as at 104, and through said slots pass set-screws 105, which are screwed into the table and operate to hold the plates in the position to which they may be adjust- 9 Each of the plates is provided with a depending hanger consisting of 

